Newsies (1992)

A musical based on the New York City newsboy strike of 1899. When young newspaper sellers are exploited beyond reason by their bosses they set out to enact change and are met by the ruthlessness of big business.

Director:

Kenny Ortega

Writers:

Bob Tzudiker, Noni White

Stars:

Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Robert Duvall

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Bale	...	Jack Kelly
David Moscow	...	David Jacobs
Luke Edwards	...	Les Jacobs
Max Casella	...	Racetrack Higgins
Gabriel Damon	...	Spot Conlon
Marty Belafsky	...	Crutchy
Arvie Lowe Jr.	...	Boots
Aaron Lohr	...	Mush
Trey Parker	...	Kid Blink
Dee Caspary	...	Snitch
Joseph Conrad	...	Jake
Dominic Maldonado	...	Itey
Matthew Schoenfeld	...	Snipeshooter (as Matthew Fields)
Mark David	...	Specs
Ivan Dudynsky	...	Dutchy

Storyline

July, 1899: When Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise the distribution price one-tenth of a cent per paper, ten cents per hundred, the newsboys, poor enough already, are outraged. Inspired by the strike put on by the trolley workers, Jack "Cowboy" Kelly (Christian Bale) organizes a newsboys' strike. With David Jacobs (David Moscow) as the brains of the new union, and Jack as the voice, the weak and oppressed found the strength to band together and challenge the powerful.

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Plot Keywords:

orphan | year 1899 | teenage boy | paperboy | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

They Found The Courage To Challenge The Powerful! (DVD release)

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Genres:

Drama | Family | History | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Newsboys

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,819,485

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchwood Pacific Partners 1,Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Pulitzer (Robert Duvall) inspired the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious of all journalism awards.

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Goofs

During "Seize the Day" the kid with the tin can drums is off beat compared to the soundtrack.

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Quotes

Kloppman: Skittery. Skittery. Skittery!
[hits Skittery on the foot]
Skittery: [jumps up] I didn't do it!
Kloppman: What do you mean you didn't do it? Get up. Get up! When you get up, you have to get up!

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Crazy Credits

During the closing credits, the names of the cast are divided in three groups billed as such: The Newsies, Friends of the Newsies and The Opposing Forces.

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Alternate Versions

The featurettes on the DVD version of "Newsies", include at least two scenes that were altered in the final movie:

• On the soundtrack for "Newsies" during the song "Carrying The Banner" there is a line that goes, "You need a smile as sweet as butter, the kind that ladies can't resist. It takes an orphan, with a stutter, who ain't afraid to use his fists." This footage is also present during the song on one of the featurettes, however in the movie, this part is cut, leading straight to the scene where the boys jump over the barrels.
• During another featurette, one of the cast members mentions that Christian Bale had to learn an extra skill for his part and then there is footage of him with a lasso doing various tricks. This scene appears to be from the "Santa Fe" song, although it is not made clear.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return: Wizards of the Lost Kingdom (2017)

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Soundtracks

CARRYING THE BANNER
Written by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Performed by Max Casella, Matthew Schoenfeld, Trey Parker, Mark David, Marty Belafsky, Aaron Lohr, Christian Bale, Michael A. Goorjian, and the Newsies Ensemble with JoAnn Harris, Sylvia Short, Melody Santangello, and Lois Young

User Reviews

Carry the banner!

I'm 19 years old in college. I sing the music from this movie on my way to class. And people stop me and say "that's from 'Newsies!' I love that movie!" How many times do you get that kind of response? This movie was exciting, well-choreographed, and funny. It has the best ingredients a musical could have. The best part...you can find this stuff in the history books (well, maybe not dancing newsboys and Robert Duvall playing Joseph Pulitzer...but nobody's perfect...except Christian Bale). See it, love it, brings the kids. They'll want to carry the banner after the movie's long over.